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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "steve ugo" <steveugo5@ig.com.br>
Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 14:35:08 +0100
Subject: Dearest Good Friend


Dearest Good Friend

I have register your Cheque Draft but the manager of EcoBank Bénin told me
that before the cheque will get to you that it will expire.

Then I ask him to cash $2,500.000.00 {TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND
UNITED STATE DOLLARS} and a friend of mine who works with with TNT EXPRESS
MAILING COMPANY made all the necessary arrangement of delivering the
$2,500.000.00 in cash as a package trunk box.

This in the information they need for delivery your package to you.
NAME: DR. MINGU OSE
EMAIL: tnt_benin@hotmail.com
PHONE: +229 93 06 35 88

1.YOUR FULL NAME__________________________
2.DELIVERY ADDRESS_________________________________
3.YOUR CELL PHONE___________________
4.OCCUPATION & AGE____________
5.A COPY OF YOUR IDENTITY {if available}

Sincerely
Mr. Steve Ugo

Anti-fraud resources: